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POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics. Lecture Topic: Globalization and Governance November 2 and 7, 2006. Globalization and Governance. Main Chapter Points
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POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Lecture Topic: Globalization and Governance November 2 and 7, 2006
Globalization and Governance • Main Chapter Points • Contemporary large-scale and accelerated globalization has rendered the statist mode of governance non-viable and encouraged the emergence of polycentric and multi-sited and networked regulation • States remain crucial nodes in this polycentric governance • Globalization has opened considerable possibilities for substate (e.g., municipal and provincial) authorities to engage directly with realms beyond their state • Inadequacies of the state as a sole site for governance of global relations have promoted a growth of suprastate (macro-regional and transworld) sites of regulation • Dominant neoliberalist policy frameworks in contemporary globalization have encouraged a major expansion of private sites of governance • Civil society activity has followed the trend from statism to polycentrism by shifting its focus from the state to a multi-scalar diffuse governance apparatus
Globalization and Governance • Statism: The “Old Model” did not give high regard to international organizations or other non-state actors
Globalization and Governance Statism and Autonomy • What does it mean to be autonomous?
Globalization and Governance What is (state) sovereignty? • General definition: supreme power or authority • Regarding world politics, sovereignty is based on the Treaty of Westphalia. • Westphalian sovereignty holds that each state has the right to exercise supreme, comprehensive, unqualified, and exclusive rule over its territorial jurisdiction. • With supreme rule, the Westphalian state would answer to no other authority; it always had the final say in respect of its territorial realm and its cross border relations with other countries Signatories of the Treaty of Munster or Westphalia
Globalization and Governance The end of statism does not necessarily mean the rise of “corporatism” or something similar. Instead, the end of statism, for now at least, means the rise of … POLYCENTRISM
Globalization and Governance The obsolescence of statism • Key point: Westphalian practices of sovereignty depended on a territorialist geography where all social, economic, political and other transactions occur at or within a fixed location: either within territorial jurisdictions or at designated points across tightly patrolled territorial borders • With the end of territorialism, therefore, statism has lost its foundation
Globalization and Governance The obsolescence of statism • Consider some examples: • State control over financial capital • State control over drug trafficking • The Chinese state’s effort to control the Internet • Human smuggling and trafficking • Online gambling through offshore centers
Globalization and Governance The obsolescence of statism • Even the trade of tangible products is too much for any government to thoroughly control • Can the Singapore government inspect the 18.5 million containers that enter its wharves every year? • Consider container traffic at California’s two busiest ports: Los Angeles and Long Beach (click here for some statistics)
Globalization and Governance The obsolescence of statism • Ideational challenges to sovereignty: • Increasingly, people’s identities are becoming less and less tied to a single state: globalization has spurred the creation of transnational identities based on gender, class, profession, race, religion, sexual orientation and so on
Globalization and Governance The obsolescence of statism • Ideational challenges to sovereignty: • Globalization has also made possible the rise of transnational social movements, such as the “anti-globalization movement,” the human rights movement, the anti-landmine movement, the “free Tibet” movement, the global environmental movement, and many others
Globalization and Governance The obsolescence of statism • Despite the challenges to state sovereignty, it is important to remember this: The state is not dead.
Globalization and Governance Globalization and the State: Four Basic Changes • Reorientation of states to serve global as well as national constituencies • Adjustments to state provisions of welfare • Altered features of warfare • Increased transstate connections in regulatory processes
Globalization and Governance Globalization and the State • Structural Violence: An Example • Lesley Stahl on U.S. sanctions against Iraq: We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it? • Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price--is worth it. --60 Minutes (5/12/96)
Globalization and Governance Globalization and the State • Increased transstate connections • One of many important developments is the “G-7 Process” • What is the G-7/8? • Click here for a basic explanation
Globalization and Governance To them third world people life is but a small price to be paid They think they're great feeling no one can touch them Well them have a next thing comin' 'Cause when them think then things go the people way One day dem deh deh dem no deh deh Oh when them think then thing goes another way One day dem deh deh dem no deh deh Seven richest things in the world What do they do for the people Look at America the so-called best How many homeless Where the money went In the sky on weapons of death Why don't they write the needy some more checks 'Cause when them think then thing goes another way One day dem deh deh dem no deh deh When them think then things go them the people way One day dem deh deh dem no deh deh Ziggy Marley “G7” Lyrics Seven richest countries in the world Them have a little meeting Them a plan to keep and oppress the poor So them have a little meeting But when them think then thing goes another way Yes when them think then thing goes another way Did you hear about these meetings No you won't find poor countries there Because of capitalist greed Revolution seem to be the only way It may be an old fashion way of thinking But I believe in the people and these aims 'Cause when them think then things go the people way One day dem deh deh dem no deh deh When them think then things go the the people way One day dem deh deh dem no deh deh These countries want to stay on top So they'll find any way
Globalization and Governance Globalization and the State • Multi-Scalar Public Governance • Scalar refers to magnitude or size: thus, multi-scalar is multi-sized, big, small and everything in between • Global governance, in other words, is now taking place at the “small” local level, the “bigger” national level, the “bigger” international level, and the “biggest” global level—not separately, but simultaneously and often inter-connectedly
Globalization and Governance Globalization and the State • Multi-Scalar Public Governance • Micro-regional governance • Example: ICLEI • Macro-regional governance • Click here for some examples • Transworld governance • Examples: the WTO, IMF, UN, BIS, OECD, WHO, ILO, IMO, ICC • Click here for a comprehensive list
Globalization and Governance Globalization and the State A Primer on the World Trade Organization (WTO) • What is the WTO? • Simply put, the World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the rules of trade between nations at a global or international level, but it’s also a number of other things … • it’s an organization for liberalizing trade • it’s a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements • it’s a place to settle trade disputes • it operates a system of trade rules For more information, click here
Globalization and Governance Globalization and the State A Primer on the International Monetary Fund • What is the IMF? • The IMF is the central institution of the international monetary system • The IMF's original statutory purposes included promoting the balanced expansion of world trade, the stability of exchange rates, the avoidance of competitive currency devaluations, and the orderly correction of a country's balance of payments problems • Today, the IMF plays an active role in “advising” each member state on how its policies in these areas may be improved to allow the more effective pursuit of goals such as high employment, low inflation, and sustainable economic growth. For more information, click here
Globalization and Governance Globalization and the State A Primer on the International Monetary Fund • A view from the perspective of a poor country--scenes from the film Life & Debt • “The International Monetary Fund” (ch. 3) • “Independence” (ch. 4) • “Lending” (ch. 5) • “Life and Debt” (ch. 13)